Transcript civil unions - Gordon State College

Chapter Nine
Singlehood, Cohabitation, Civil Unions,
and Other Options
Changes
• More are choosing never to get
married, to raise children on their
own, and to stay alone.
• Many young people feel that if you
are not married by 30, something is
wrong with you—it used to be 20.
Race and Ethnicity
Of all the people who live alone, more
than 80% are white.
Racial and ethnic minorities are more
likely to live in an extended family
situation because of values that
emphasize caring for family members.
(collectivistic)
Demographic Variables
• The sex ratio - proportion of men to
women
•
A ratio of 100 means there are equal numbers
of men and women; a ratio of 110 means there
are 110 men for every 100 women.
• Worldwide, the sex ratio of 107
• In the U.S., the sex ratio is 105 at birth.
• In the 65 and over age group, the ratio is
75 because women tend to live longer than
men.
Demographic Variables
The marriage squeeze—a sex imbalance
in the ratio of available unmarried women
and men.
African Americans
Compared to other groups, African
Americans are the most likely to be
unmarried.
Structural factor—the shortage of
marriageable African American men.
Values and attitudes—homogamy
generally limits the pool of eligible
mates across social classes.
Latinos
Latinas are generally less likely than African
American women to experience a shortage
of marriageable partners.
Structural factors—the Latino population is
young and a higher percentage has not
reached marriageable age. Recent
immigrants are postponing marriage until
they can support a family. It is difficult for
undocumented or migrant workers to marry.
Low wages and high unemployment can
delay marriage or increase the number of
singles because of divorce.
Asian Americans
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
have some of the lowest singlehood
rates.
Structural factors—intermarriage
decreases singlehood rates,
especially among Asian American
women.
Values and attitudes—they see the
family as the core of society.
Types of Cohabitation
Dating cohabitation—a prelude to getting
married.
Premarital cohabitation—again a prelude to
marriage but couples are usually engaged.
Trial marriage—the partners in this
relationship want to see what marriage
might be like.
Substitute marriage—a long-term
commitment between two people who don’t
plan to marry.
Who Cohabits?
• Age - 20% of all cohabiters are age 24 or
younger.
•
A majority (56%) are between 25 and 44.
• Gender - by age 30,half of all U.S. women
have cohabitated.
• Social class - more common among
people of lower educational levels and
lower income levels.
Cohabitation Facts
•
In the United States, tends to be short-lived.
•
•
•
One-third of cohabiting couples live together for less than
a year.
Less that 1 out of 10 lasts 5 years.
Cohabitation does not lead to greater marital
satisfaction, but rather the majority of research
has found that cohabitation is not good for a
marriage.
Costs and Benefits
of Cohabitation
Benefits
– Emotional security but can also
maintain some independence.
– Partners can dissolve the relationship
without legal paperwork.
– Couples who are older at marriage
generally have lower rates of divorce.
Costs and Benefits
of Cohabitation
Benefits (cont.)
–It can help people find out how much
they really care about each other.
–Among the elderly it can increase family
care.
Costs and Benefits
of Cohabitation
Costs
– Women in cohabitating relationships do
more of the housework, especially when
the man is not committed to the
relationship.
– Cohabiting women experience an
elevated risk of partner violence
compared to married women.
Costs and Benefits
of Cohabitation
Costs (cont.)
–Weaker commitment to their
relationship than those who are married.
–Demonstrate more negative behaviors
after marriage.
–Dilutes intergenerational ties.
–There are no legal protections in most
states.
Does Cohabitation Lead to a
Better Marriage?
• No, it doesn’t.
•
Selection effect suggests that people who
cohabitate before marriage have different
characteristics than those who do not.
•
Cohabitation effect - the likelihood of divorce
increases because the couple got used to the
impermanent nature of the relationship.
How Does Cohabitation
Affect Children?
Experience more domestic violence
Are more likely to be poor
Are in households in which the partners
spend more on adult goods and less
on children
Have more academic problems
Same-Sex Marriage
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first
state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Since then thirteen other states have
followed suit.
Civil Unions
Nine states now allow civil unions,
which are a marriage alternative for
gays.
What is a civil union?
– They are California, Connecticut,
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Washington,
Nevada, New Jersey, and Oregon.
– About 22 countries around the world offer
varying civil union benefits.
Supreme Court Decision
Striking down the Defense of Marriage Act
“The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate
purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to
disparage and injure those whom the state, by its
marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood
and dignity,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “By seeking to
displace this protection and treating those persons
as living in marriages less respected than others,
the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth
Amendment.”